Many parents don’t know what they face when they punish or reward their children
Both rewards and punishments do not have a very good press in some sectors of the population. Offering prizes to children is like recognizing a failure, it is as if, when failing as educators, we had to resort to the “substitute” of the prizes that, rather than educate, they train.
Punishments, on the other hand, do not usually give such a feeling of failure. Even those who punish their children are accepted as socially as responsible parents. In some way, it is recognized that punishment is an educational instrument, to end by admitting that it is not much use either because the son has such inclinations that there is nothing to do. And he is being stopped punishing and his way of being is accepted as irremediable.
Rewards and punishments, although they affect only external behavior and, therefore, may not influence the intimate personality, create an environment that facilitates communication between people in the family or improves the person’s abilities. Both aspects are facilitating elements of education.
In summary, rewards and punishments are recommended and appropriate if they are used as a temporary means of achievement and always appropriate. Please read the instructions for use.